By Tom Mark

Environment And Agriculture Issues At UBCM For ColdStream

Oct 5, 2017 | 9:26 AM

Coldstream is appealing to the provincial government for more clarity on regulations concerning riparian areas.

Mayor Jim Garlick says the issue was brought up with Environment Ministry officials at last week’s UBCM conference.

He feels more needs to be done to have regulations in place explaining responsibilities.

“That I think are clear and understandable to homeowners, lake shore and stream side owners on what they need to do if they are doing a development.

He says it’s particularly important for people who’s docks were damaged or destroyed by flooding.

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Coldstream has a zoning bylaw and building permits required for docks.

Manure management is another issue the District would like the Environment Ministry to get its shovels into.

Mayor Jim Garlick says it’s been a year’s long issue with manure entering water systems.

“We don’t want to drive farmers out of business with this but I think some thought could be put into where we spread manure, when we spread it and the amount we spread around.”

Especially if there is an aquifer or water intake nearby.

He points to the problems with the Hullcar Aquifer and Antwerp Springs in Coldstream.

Garlick says several Okanagan municipalities got together at the UBCM in a workshop to talk about the province’s Right To Farm Act.

The feeling is it needs to be modernized to give it more clarity.

“For one thing; how does a practice become a normal farm practice. We asked the ministry to actually explain that. They said they would try to get back to us on that information. The process that would be used.”

He says information from Agriculture Ministry staff isn’t clear enough to explain to their residents.

There is also the issue of taxation.

“We now have agriculture which is quite intensive, what people will call industrial agriculture compared to something that people are more used to.”

Garlick says those intensive farm situations have more impact on a community both for infrastructure and adjoining residents.

The question is whether there should be a different tax structure in place.

by Tom Mark